I’ve done a lot of load development for rifles and various different cartridges. Both the “Ultra-Magnum” and standard cartridges.

I’ve found that I have began to prefer bullet weights and loads that generate 2600-2700fps at the SAAMI MAP pressure.

I don’t know if this is a sweet spot, but when you start looking at all the popular long range cartridges out there they hover around the 2600-2700fps range.

Once things get faster then that you really start to wear out the barrel/throat of a rifle and while the trajectory is a bit flatter is doesn’t seem to be worth the extra powder, and wear on the firearm to get that.

I was wondering if anyone else has a “preference” when it comes to a velocity?


Here are some examples...

I feed my 338LM 300gr SMK’s and RL33 to get around 2700fps out of it. My 308 Win is typically loaded with 178gr SMK’s and gets around 2600fps.

The .224 Valkyrie shoots 90 SMK’s at about 2600fps

The 6.5 Creed is 140gr around 2600 FPS.




Reloading...it’s like knitting for men.